You see the German Government has bought Count Zeppelin's air-ship or steerable balloon, as it ought to be called, always supposing that they can steer it in a wind, and of course their idea is to make a fighting machine of it.

Now Germany is engaged to stand by us in this trouble that's coming, and by way of cementing the alliance I thought it was just as well to let the wily Teuton know that there's something flying the British flag which could make very small mincemeat of their gas-bags." "And what about Old Glory ?" said Miss Zaidie.

"The _Astronef_ was built with English money and English skill, but----" "She is the creature of American genius.

Of course she is.

In fact she is the first concrete symbol of the Anglo-American Alliance, and when the daughter of her creator has gone into partnership with the man who made her we'll have two flagstaff's, and the Jack and Old Glory will float side by side." "And meanwhile where are we going ?" asked Zaidie, after a moment's interval.